Half to john m



(No Model.)

T. J. HIOKEY. TOOL FOR WORKING SHEET METAL. No. 428,811

Patented May .27, 1890.

NiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN M. KENNEDY, JR, OF SAME PLACE.

TOOL FOR WORKING SHEET METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,811, dated May 27, 1890.

Application filed December 24:, I887. Serial No. 258,862. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern: Fig. is adetached view showing the method Be it known that I, THOMAS J. HIOKEY, a of securing the elevating-strips to the jaws. citizen of the United States, residing at Phil- Fig. 6 represents the successive steps foladelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and lowed in using the tool.

5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain The tool consists of three jaws A B O, to 55 new and useful Improvements in Tools for which are respectively connected the operat- WVOrking Sheet Metal, of which the following ing-handles a b 0. These may be of any de- 15 a Pecification. sired size and of any suitable material. The This invention relates to tools for seaming three handles or operating-levers a b c are 10 and uniting sheets of metal, and commonly flattened near their lower ends and lie side 60 known as groovers or tinners tongs, suchby side, the two I) 0 being united by a bolt D tools being commonly employed in metalpassing through them. The arm a does not roofing to unite the edges of the adjacent pivot about bolt D, but around a rod or bolt sheets of metal. G, uniting the jaws A B, the flattened portion The steps ordinarily followed in such work, of said arm or preferably lying close by the 65 and which are followed by the use of my inside of the arms I) and 0, so that the three vention, are illustrated in Figure 6, wherein handles maybe convenientlygrasped. It will 1 indicates two sheets of metal placed side thus be seen that the jaws A and C may be by side with their adjacent edges turned up moved independently of each other both toto form flanges, one being higher than the ward or from the middle jaw B. 70 other, as shown. The nextstep in the process e e. are elevating-strips, of any required of uniting these two sheets of metal is reprethickness, adapted to be attached to the lower sented at 2, where the longer flange is turned faces of jaws B and O to increase the depth or bent over the short one at an acute angle, of such jaws, they being employed when the which turned-over edge is next folded down bends 2 and 3, Fig. 6, are being made. These 75 by the side of the shorter flange, as illustrated elevating-strips may be secured to the jaws at 3. The two flanges thus folded together in different ways; but I prefer that shown in are at the next step bent over at an acute Fig. 5, where the strip is shown as provided angle, as seen at 4, when the joint or seam is with upturned ends, one of which has an in- 0 completed by bending the flanges together, ward-projecting pin (2 adapted to enter a re- 80 as at 5. In following these steps one difficess formed therefor'in the end face of the culty which has frequently been experienced jaw, into which it is drawn and held by the is that the tin or other sheet metal is cracked set-screw e seated in the opposite upturned or broken along the line of the fold when end of the strip and bearing against the end 3 5 being bent by reason of the tools employed of the jaw. 5 being so constructed as to cause the turned- 6 e are pins or other equivalent interlockover part of the flange to assume a sharp ing projections, which may be carried by the angle relatively to the other part thereof. strip and engage with the lower edge of the It is one of the purposes of my invention jaw, serving'to preserve the proper alignment 40 to overcome this objection; and it consists of of the two. 90

a novel construct-ion of parts whereby this The upper inner corner of jaw Cis extended as well as other advantages to be hereinafter into a projection F, having a curved face pointed out are attained. which is overhung by a flange or lip I, carried In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse by the middle jaw 13. j

section on the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a 1-1 is a recess formed at the upper inner 5 top plan view of the tool, the handles being junction of jaws A B, one method of forming in section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a it being, as shown, by beveling off the upper transverse sectional view, the elevating-strips inner face of jaw A and grooving jaw B adj abeing removed and the jaws open. Fig. 4-. is cent thereto. The lower portions of the jaws a sectional view illustrating a modification. B C are rabbeted, as seen atj, Figs. 1, 3, and I00 4t. This is done for the reason that it is not necessary and is even undesirable that the flanges of the sheet metal should be drawn or pinched very close together along the line of their union with the plates from which they rise, as thereby danger of breakage or cracking is reduced.

The method of using the tool described may now be understood. Two sheets of tin, properly flanged, are brought together into the position 1, Fig. 0, and the upturned flanges are forced between the jaws I3 0, which at this stage of the process are provided with elevating strips or ribs 6 of such thickness as to make the distance from the lower face of the strip to the upper edge of the projection F of jaw C about equal to the height of the shorterflange. As these jaws are brought together, the projection 1 and lip I eonjointly act to turn or lap the portion of the longer flange extending beyond the shorterone over the end of the short flange, as seen at 2, Fig. 6. It will be seen that the shape of projection F and the groove formed by rib or lip I is such that the bend given thereby to the flange is not sharp and angular, as has heretofore been customary, but is gradual and curved. The advantage incident to this part of my invention is that there is much less danger of the metal being cracked or broken along the bend or fold, as will be readily understood. The bend 2 havingbeen thus made by jaws l (l, the sheet-metal seam is next compressed between jaws A l which fold the flanges together, as shown at 3, Fig. 0. The longitudinal recess Il between thesetwo jaws insures that the bend of the turned-over flange shall be free and shall not be compressed so as to tend to crack or break it, and preserves the advantages incident to the construction of the jaws L. To form the second series of folds n 5,the same operations are followed, the strips or blocks c 6, however, being first removedthatis, the flanges folded together,

as at S, are together bent into the position -.t. by the jaws l (I, and are then pressed or folded together, as at 5, by jaws A 1 In both theselast bendings or foldings the tendency to crack or break the sheet metal by making sharp angular bends is avoided in. the same manner as when bends 2 3 are being made.

It will be seen that all the operations from 2 to 5, Fig. 6, may be performed by the single tool described, and that in a more satist'ae tory manner than has been heretofore attainable. The levers being all mounted close together enables the tool to be easily and rapidly operated, as both sets of levers may be grasped without the operator having to change his position, thus tending to rapidity and aecuracy of movement and simplicity and compactness in construction.

13y pivoting or hinging the two jaws A and B directly together along their upper edges, as at G, great leverage is obtained for making the folds and I am aware that it not new in aseamingtool having three jaws to pivotally unite two of them by a bolt passing through their handles and to pivot the third jaw to the upper outer edge of the middle one and operate the same by a foot lever or treadle; but it is often, especially upon slanting roots or in very windy weather, dangerous or even impossible for the operator to use his foot for this purpose, and by my invention I avoid this objection, besides securing longer leverage.

In Fig. 4: I have shown a form of my in vention wherein the operating-levers are arranged somewhat differently from what they are in the construction shown in the other figures. In this arrangement the flattened portion of the hand-lever it lies between the two other handles, and is providedwith a curved slot E, concentric with the pin or rod G, so that the hand-lever may move freely independently of the pivot-bolt D, which extends through this slot.

It will be understood that those parts of my invention relating to the construction of the jaws by which the sheet-metal flanges or edges are so bent as to avoid breaking or cracking are equally applicable to tools hav- 5 ing but a single pair of jaws.

\Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, I claim- 1. In combination with a tool for seaming metal sheets having pivoted jaws, the removable strips 6, having upturned ends, one provided with a pin c adapted to enter a recess inv the end of the jaw, and the other with a set-screw e, substantially as described.

2. In a tool for seaming sheet metal, the combination of three jaws A B 0, three operating-handles connected, respectively, therewith, a bolt 1), pivotally connecting the handies of jaws B and C, and a pivot rod or bolt connecting jaw A to jaw 13, the handle of jaw A lying between those of the other jaws and provided with a slot concentric with its pivot G, through which passes the bolt D, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. MICKEY.

Witnesses:

WM. S. DARLINGTON, N. U. LANE.

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